Sosa's return to Baltimore doubtful this season

BALTIMORE - Sammy Sosa's unproductive season with the Orioles is apparently over.

Orioles vice president Jim Beattie said Saturday that it's "doubtful" Sosa will return to the team from his Miami home, where the outfielder has been rehabilitating a toe injury since Sept.7.

"Obviously the further along it gets, the harder it is to bring him back," Beattie said. "We've been calling and talking to him, and we just have to see where he is the next day or so."

Sosa hasn't played since Aug.25.

Interim manager Sam Perlozzo is planning out the final week of the season on the assumption that he's seen the last of Sosa.

"I'm just going to guess it's probably a little late for him to come back," Perlozzo said.

BRAVES: Frustrated by stiffness in his right shoulder, pitcher John Smoltz would like to rest before the playoffs if Atlanta clinches the NL East before his start Wednesday.

Smoltz, 38, has been bothered by the shoulder for a few starts. He gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings against Florida after pushing back his start two days.

"I don't think it's real serious, but it just comes at an awkward time," Smoltz said Saturday.

NATIONALS: Outfielder Jose Guillen dropped his appeal of a one-game suspension for an equipment-throwing tantrum after an ejection and was to serve his penalty Saturday night. ... Rick Short, the 32-year-old minor leaguer who flirted with batting .400 at Triple-A New Orleans and finally reached the majors this season, will have surgery today to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Short was injured when he dived to stop a ball while playing second base Friday.

YANKEES: The team surpassed the 4-million mark in home attendance to become the third major league franchise to reach the milestone.